Westport Highway Surveyor pleads not guilty, blames 'town politics'

Thursday

Nov 29, 2012 at 12:01 AMNov 29, 2012 at 6:30 AM

FALL RIVER — Westport Highway Surveyor Harold "Jack" Sisson Jr. pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and receiving stolen town property Wednesday and again blamed "town politics" for the charges against him.

MATT CAMARA

FALL RIVER — Westport Highway Surveyor Harold "Jack" Sisson Jr. pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and receiving stolen town property Wednesday and again blamed "town politics" for the charges against him.

"I will say one thing: Everyone in Westport knows I'm here because of town politics," Sisson said before the arraignment. He made a similar comment in a Nov. 2 interview with The Standard-Times when town officials first revealed he was part of a criminal investigation.

He declined further comment.

Sisson's lawyer, New Bedford attorney Emile E. Morad Jr., told Judge Deborah Dunn that he intended to file a motion to dismiss the case at the pre-trial hearing, but declined to comment further after the arraignment saying it was not his policy to speak to the media and that "It will all play out in court." Morad said he also intends to file motions to see the prosecution's evidence.

Sisson and Highway Department employee John Kennedy — who faces the same charges — are slated to have pre-trial hearings on Feb. 5. Kennedy was arraigned on Nov. 20 and pleaded not guilty, as well. Kennedy is not in custody.

After Kennedy's arraignment, Fall River attorney Patrick T. Matthews maintained his client was "caught up in a political battle" between "various forces" in Westport. Matthews added that Kennedy believed he had participated in a legitimate business deal, not theft as police allege.

Police filed criminal charges against both men on Nov. 5, alleging that Sisson traded a Cub Cadet riding mower with attachments to 146 Supply Company Inc., of Millbury, for a $100 trade-in value without soliciting proper bids and later asked the company to give it to Kennedy for free.

Police discovered the deal after they saw 146 Supply owner Peter Boria loading a box trailer full of equipment from the town garage, which is just behind the Town Hall and adjacent to the police station. Police questioned Boria and he told them of a "side deal" between the company and Kennedy.

Police recovered the equipment at Kennedy's Forge Road home after Boria told them Sisson had asked him to bring some of the items there.

The town placed both men on paid administrative leave from their positions in the Highway Department shortly before police filed charges.